Coast Guard saves 4 from severe weather 24 miles off Matagorda Bay

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard rescued four people from a sailboat caught in high seas and winds, due to severe weather in the area, approximately 24 miles offshore of Matagorda Bay, Thursday.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a distress signal from a SPOT device on the 18-foot sailboat. Watchstanders launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HU-25 Falcon jet from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi as well as a 45-foot Response Boat — Medium from Coast Guard Station Port O’Connor.

The Falcon crew located the sailboat in distress and vectored in the boatcrew. They took the sailboat in tow safely back to port.